Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in North Carolina is $57,650/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $62,217 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in North Carolina?
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in North Carolina runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in North Carolina
14 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $60K | +5% | 4,210 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $60K | +5% | 8,500 |
| Asheville | $59K | +3% | 1,080 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $59K | +2% | 2,300 |
| Wilmington | $58K | +1% | 730 |
| Winston-Salem | $58K | +0% | 1,330 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $58K | +0% | 1,620 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $58K | +0% | 630 |
| Greenville | $57K | -1% | 360 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $56K | -2% | 240 |
| Goldsboro | $52K | -9% | 360 |
| Burlington | $50K | -14% | 350 |
| Fayetteville | $50K | -14% | 1,030 |
| Rocky Mount | $48K | -17% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 metros
Compare to other states
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,726/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $58K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
North Carolina pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in North Carolina?
The median is $57,650 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,430, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $64,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,814/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 33.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $62,217 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.